History & Mission

glacier hills history

Our Mission is to serve older adults with a  continuum of lifestyle, care and support alternatives embracing enrichment of the whole person.

In the mid-1960s, Dr. Ralph Piper, pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church, and other church leaders had a vision to create a community for older adults in Ann Arbor, one which would provide gracious living, health care, security, socialization, and meals served in an elegant dining room.

In October 1973, the Lutheran Retirement Center opened its doors with 226 apartments and a 70-bed nursing center, situated on 34 acres in a charming residential neighborhood of northeast Ann Arbor.

Nine years later, the Board of Directors repurchased the outstanding stock issued to the Zion Lutheran Church and changed the name to Glacier Hills, Inc. to emphasize the non-sectarian character and culture of the retirement community.

After a year of extensive study, in July of 2016, the Glacier Hills Board of Directors entered into an affiliation agreement with Trinity Health Senior Communities. THSC is a faith-based, non-profit senior housing and nursing care organization headquartered in Livonia, Michigan.

Today, that rich heritage lives on and is embodied in all we do to further our mission to serve older adults in our community.